John Betjeman - definition of John Betjeman by The Free Dictionary John Betjeman - definition of John Betjeman by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Bet·je·man (bĕch′ə-mən), Sir John 1906-1984. British poet and poet laureate (1972-1984) whose often nostalgic works, in collections such as A Few Late Chrysanthemums (1954), praise the English countryside. He also wrote widely on Victorian architecture. Betjeman (ˈbɛtʃəmən) n (Biography) Sir John. 1906–84, English poet, noted for his nostalgic and humorous verse and essays and for his concern for the preservation of historic buildings, esp of the Victorian era. Poet laureate (1972–84) Bet•je•man n. Sir John, 1906–84, English poet: poet laureate 1972–84. Want to thank TFD for its existence?

Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Betjeman; writing the public life The list contains plenty of other cities that sports fans could take in with Biarritz fifth, Porto sixth and Valencia seventh, but there's oddly no sign of Huddersfield, venue for today's Challenge Cup rugby league semi-final between Hull and Warrington, even though its magnificent railway station was once described by Sir John Betjeman as having 'the finest facade of any such building in the country'. Andrew Motion - definition of Andrew Motion by The Free Dictionary Andrew Motion - definition of Andrew Motion by The Free Dictionary n. 1. The act or process of changing position or place. 2. A meaningful or expressive change in the position of the body or a part of the body; a gesture. 3. Active operation: set the plan in motion. 4. The ability or power to move: lost motion in his arm. 5. The manner in which the body moves, as in walking. 6. A prompting from within; an impulse or inclination: resigned of her own motion. 7. Music Melodic ascent and descent of pitch. 8.

Law An application made to a court for an order or a ruling. 9. A formal proposal put to the vote under parliamentary procedures. 10. a. A mechanical device or piece of machinery that moves or causes motion; a mechanism. b. The movement or action of such a device. v. mo·tioned, mo·tion·ing, mo·tions v.tr. 1. To direct by making a gesture: motioned us to our seats. 2. To indicate by making a gesture; signal: motioned that he was ready. 3. To make a motion (that something should happen). v.intr. To signal by making a gesture: motioned to her to enter. Idiom: go through the motions To do something in a mechanical manner indicative of a lack of interest or involvement. [Middle English mocioun, from Old French motion, from Latin mōtiō, mōtiōn-, from mōtus, past participle of movēre, to move; see meuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] motion (ˈməʊʃən) n 1. (General Physics) the process of continual change in the physical position of an object; movement: linear motion.

2. (Physiology) a movement or action, esp of part of the human body; gesture 3. (Physiology) a. the capacity for movement b. a manner of movement, esp walking; gait 4. (Psychology) a mental impulse 5. (Parliamentary Procedure) a formal proposal to be discussed and voted on in a debate, meeting, etc 6. (Law) law an application made to a judge or court for an order or ruling necessary to the conduct of legal proceedings 7. (Physiology) a. the evacuation of the bowels b. excrement a. part of a moving mechanism b. the action of such a part 9. (Music, other) music the upward or downward course followed by a part or melody. Parts whose progressions are in the same direction exhibit similar motion, while two parts whose progressions are in opposite directions exhibit contrary motion. See also parallel 3 10. go through the motions a. to act or perform the task (of doing something) mechanically or without sincerity b. to mimic the action (of something) by gesture 11.

in motion operational or functioning (often in the phrases set in motion, set the wheels in motion) vb (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to signal or direct (a person) by a movement or gesture [C15: from Latin mōtiō a moving, from movēre to move] ˈmotional adj (ˈməʊʃən) n (Biography) Sir Andrew. born 1952, British poet and biographer; his collections include Pleasure Steamers (1978) and Public Property (2002): poet laureate (1999–2009) mo•tion 1. the action or process of moving or of changing place or position; movement. 2. power of movement, as of a living body. 3. the manner of moving the body in walking; gait. 4. a bodily movement or change of posture; gesture. 5. a formal proposal, esp. one made to a deliberative assembly. 6. an application made to a court or judge for an order, ruling, or the like. 7. an inward prompting or impulse; inclination. 8.

melodic progression from one pitch to another. 9. Mach. a. a piece of mechanism with a particular action or function. b. the action of such a mechanism. 10. in motion, in active operation; moving. v.t. 11. to direct by a significant motion or gesture, as with the hand. v.i. 12. to make a meaningful motion, as with the hand. [1350–1400; Middle English mocio(u)n < Latin mōtiō=mō-, variant s. of movēre to move + -tiō -tion ] mo′tion•less, adj. mo′tion•less•ly, adv. mo′tion•less•ness, n. Motion the tendency of a plant, animal, or part to move or turn in response to an external stimulus, as sunlight or temperature. — tropistic, adj.

motion I will have been motioning you will have been motioning he/she/it will have been motioning we will have been motioning you will have been motioning they will have been motioning Past Perfect Continuous visual communication - communication that relies on vision sign - a gesture that is part of a sign language gesticulation - a deliberate and vigorous gesture or motion beck - a beckoning gesture facial expression , facial gesture - a gesture executed with the facial muscles flourish - a showy gesture; "she entered with a great flourish" high-five - a gesture of greeting or elation; one person's upraised palm slaps the upraised palm of another person previous question - a motion calling for an immediate vote on the main question under discussion by a deliberative assembly shrug - a gesture involving the shoulders wafture , waving , wave - the act of signaling by a movement of the hand V sign - a sign (for victory); making a V with the index and middle fingers nod - a sign of assent or salutation or command bowing , obeisance , bow - bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting sign of the cross - a gesture with the right hand moving to form a cross; used by

 Catholics as a profession of faith curtsey , curtsy - bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women 2.

happening , natural event , occurrence , occurrent - an event that happens crustal movement , tectonic movement - movement resulting from or causing deformation of the earth's crust approaching , approach - the event of one object coming closer to another passing , passage - the motion of one object relative to another; "stellar passings can perturb the orbits of comets" deflexion , deflection - the movement of the pointer or pen of a measuring instrument from its zero position bending , bend - movement that causes the formation of a curve change of location , travel - a movement through space that changes the location of something undulation , wave - (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth jitter - a small irregular movement periodic motion , periodic movement - motion that recurs over and over and the period of time required for each recurrence remains the same heave - (geology) a horizontal dislocation backlash , rebound , recoil , repercussion - a movement back from an impact recoil , kick - the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired seek - the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk wring , squeeze - a twisting squeeze; "gave the wet cloth a wring" cam stroke , stroke , throw - the

 maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam turning , turn - a movement in a new direction; "the turning of the wind" wrench , twist - a jerky pulling movement undulation - wavelike motion; a gentle rising and falling in the manner of waves moving ridge , wave - one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water) wobble - an unsteady rocking motion whirl , commotion - confused movement; "he was caught up in a whirl of work"; "a commotion of people fought for the exits" Brownian motion , Brownian movement , pedesis - the random motion of small particles suspended in a gas or liquid 3.

motion - a change of position that does not entail a change of location; "the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise"; "movement is a sign of life"; "an impatient move of his hand"; "gastrointestinal motility" change - the action of changing something; "the change of government had no impact on the economy"; "his change on abortion cost him the election" abduction - (physiology) moving of a body part away from the central axis of the body adduction - (physiology) moving of a body part toward the central axis of the body agitation - the act of agitating something; causing it to move around (usually vigorously) body English - a motion of the body by a player as if to make an object already propelled go in the desired direction circumduction - a circular movement of a limb or eye disturbance - the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion fetal movement , foetal movement - motion of a fetus within the uterus (usually detected by the 16th week of pregnancy) flit , dart - a sudden quick movement gesture - motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling headshake , headshaking - the act of turning your head left and right to signify denial

 or disbelief or bemusement; "I could tell from their headshakes that they didn't believe me" inclining , inclination - the act of inclining; bending forward; "an inclination of his head indicated his agreement" everting , eversion , inversion - the act of turning inside out upending , inversion - turning upside down; setting on end jerking , jolt , saccade , jerk - an abrupt spasmodic movement kicking , kick - a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics; "the kick must be synchronized with the arm movements"; "the swimmer's kicking left a wake behind him" kneel , kneeling - supporting yourself on your knees pitching , lurch , pitch - abrupt up-and-down motion (as caused by a ship or other conveyance); "the pitching and tossing was quite exciting" eye movement - the movement of the eyes opening - the act of opening something; "the ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door" prostration - the act of assuming a prostrate position reaching , stretch , reach - the act of physically reaching or thrusting out reciprocation - alternating back-and-forth movement reclining - the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position re

traction - the act of pulling or holding or drawing a part back; "the retraction of the landing gear"; "retraction of the foreskin" retroflection , retroflexion - the act of bending backward rotary motion , rotation - the act of rotating as if on an axis; "the rotation of the dancer kept time with the music" closing , shutting - the act of closing something sitting - the act of assuming or maintaining a seated position; "he read the mystery at one sitting" posing , sitting - (photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait); "he wanted his portrait painted but couldn't spare time for the sitting" snap - the act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand; "he gave his fingers a snap" squatting , squat - the act of assuming or maintaining a crouching position with the knees bent and the buttocks near the heels sweep - a movement in an arc; "a sweep of his arm" toss - an abrupt movement; "a toss of his head" vibration , quivering , quiver - the act of vibrating wave - a movement like that of a sudden occurrence or increase in a specified

 phenomenon; "a wave of settlers"; "troops advancing in waves" flutter , waver , flicker - the act of moving back and forth standing - the act of assuming or maintaining an erect upright position straddle , span - the act of sitting or standing astride stroke - a single complete movement squirm , wiggle , wriggle - the act of wiggling eurhythmics , eurhythmy , eurythmics , eurythmy - the interpretation in harmonious bodily movements of the rhythm of musical compositions; used to teach musical understanding 4.

motion - a state of change; "they were in a state of steady motion" state - the way something is with respect to its main attributes; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state" quivering , shakiness , trembling , vibration , shaking , palpitation , quiver - a shaky motion; "the shaking of his fingers as he lit his pipe" perpetual motion - motion that continues indefinitely without any external source of energy; impossible in practice because of friction precession - the motion of a spinning body (as a top) in which it wobbles so that the axis of rotation sweeps out a cone stream , flow - something that resembles a flowing stream in moving continuously; "a stream of people emptied from the terminal"; "the museum had planned carefully for the flow of visitors" lifelessness , motionlessness , stillness - a state of no motion or movement; "the utter motionlessness of a marble statue" 5. motion - a formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote; "he made a motion to adjourn"; "she called for the question" proposal - something proposed (such as a plan or assumption) 6.

motion - the act of changing location from one place to another; "police controlled the motion of the crowd"; "the movement of people from the farms to the cities"; "his move put him directly in my path" change - the action of changing something; "the change of government had no impact on the economy"; "his change on abortion cost him the election" coming , approach , approaching - the act of drawing spatially closer to something; "the hunter's approach scattered the geese" locomotion , travel - self-propelled movement lunge , lurch - the act of moving forward suddenly travel , traveling , travelling - the act of going from one place to another; "he enjoyed selling but he hated the travel" chase , pursual , pursuit , following - the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture; "the culprit started to run and the cop took off in pursuit" ascending , rise , ascent , ascension - the act of changing location in an upward direction descent - the act of changing your location in a downward direction swinging , vacillation , swing - changing location by moving back and forth return - the act of going back to a prior location; "they set out on their return to the base camp" glide , coast ,

 slide - the act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it; "his slide didn't stop until the bottom of the hill"; "the children lined up for a coast down the snowy slope" slippage - failing to hold or slipping out of place; "the knots allowed no slippage" flow , stream - the act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression crawl - a very slow movement; "the traffic advanced at a crawl" hurrying , speeding , speed - changing location rapidly displacement , translation - the act of uniform movement shifting , shift - the act of moving from one place to another; "his constant shifting disrupted the class" rush , rushing , haste , hurry - the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner; "in his haste to leave he forgot his book" maneuver , manoeuvre , play - a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill; "he made a great maneuver"; "the runner was out on a play by the shortstop" migration - the movement of persons from one country or locality to another 7.

motion - an optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving object; "the cinema relies on apparent motion"; "the succession of flashing lights gave an illusion of movement" optical illusion - an optical phenomenon that results in a false or deceptive visual impression Verb gesticulate , gesture wink - signal by winking; "She winked at him" exsert , hold out , stretch forth , stretch out , put out , extend - thrust or extend out; "He held out his hand"; "point a finger"; "extend a hand"; "the bee exserted its sting" shrug - raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation clap , spat - clap one's hands together; "The children were clapping to the music" communicate , intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist" applaud , acclaim , clap , spat - clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval bless , sign - make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate nod - express or signify by nodding; "He nodded his approval" cross oneself - make the sign of the cross; in the Catholic religion bow , bow down - bend one's

 knee or body, or lower one's head; "He bowed before the King"; "She bowed her head in shame" shake - shake (a body part) to communicate a greeting, feeling, or cognitive state; "shake one's head"; "She shook her finger at the naughty students"; "The old enemies shook hands"; "Don't shake your fist at me!" beckon , wave - signal with the hands or nod; "She waved to her friends"; "He waved his hand hospitably" motion noun 3.

proposal , suggestion , recommendation , proposition , submission The conference is now debating the motion. verb 1. gesture , direct , wave , signal , nod , beckon , gesticulate She motioned for the doors to be opened. in motion set or put something in motion start , begin , launch , institute , initiate , activate , spark off , trigger off Her sharp comments set in motion the events that led to her downfall. Related words Idiom: give the high sign. Translations 1.

(= movement) → movimiento m to be in motion (lit) → estar en movimiento to set in motion [+ mechanism] → poner en marcha the strike set in motion a chain of events which led to his overthrow → la huelga desencadenó una serie de acontecimientos que condujeron a su derrocamiento to go through the motions (of doing sth); he was just going through the motions of living → estaba viviendo maquinalmente , vivía por inercia they went through the motions of consulting members → siguieron la formalidad de consultar a los miembros to set the wheels in motion (to do sth) → poner las cosas en marcha (para hacer algo) see also perpetual B he made a chopping motion with his hand → hizo un gesto como si fuera a cortar algo con la mano , hizo un ademán de cortar algo con la mano 3.

(= proposal) → moción f the motion was carried/defeated → la moción fue aprobada /rechazada to propose or > make a motion (that ...) (US) → presentar una moción (para que + subjun) to propose or > make a motion (to do sth) (US) → presentar una moción (para hacer algo) to vote on a motion → votar una moción 4. (US) (Jur) → petición f to file a motion (for sth/to do sth) → presentar una petición (para algo/para hacer algo) 5. (Brit) (frm) (also bowel motion) (= action) → evacuación f; (= stool) → deposición f to have or pass a motion → evacuar el vientre 6. [of watch, clock] → mecanismo m B.

VT he motioned me to a chair/to sit down → con un gesto indicó que me sentara , hizo señas para que me sentara to motion sb in(side)/out(side) → señalar or indicar a algn con un gesto que entre/ salga to motion to sb to do sth → indicar a algn con un gesto que haga algo, hacer señas a algn para que haga algo D.

CPD motion picture N (esp US) → película f motion picture camera N (esp US) → cámara f cinematográfica , cámara f de cine the motion picture industry N → la industria cinematográfica motion picture theater (US) N → cine m motion sickness N → mareo m motion to be in motion (= moving) [vehicle] → être en marche ; [process] → être en route to set in motion (= start) [+ process, event] → mettre en marche (= start moving) [+ things] → entraîner to set the wheels in motion (= get things started) → lancer le processus to go through the motions [person who doesn't really care] → faire semblant to go through the motions of doing sth (fig) → faire qch machinalement or sans conviction (British) (also bowel motion) → selles fpl vt He motioned me in another direction → Il m'a fait signe de changer de direction . He motioned me towards a chair → Il m'a indiqué une chaise du doigt .

(= signal) to motion sb to do sth → faire signe à qn de faire qch vi (= signal) to motion for sb to do sth → faire signe à qn de faire qch to motion to sb to do sth → faire signe à qn de faire qch motion n no pl (= movement) → Bewegung f; to be in motion → sich bewegen ; (engine, machine etc) → laufen ; (train, bus etc) → fahren ; to set or put something in motion → etw in Gang bringen or setzen ; to set the wheels in motion (to do something) → die Dinge ins Rollen bringen (, um etw zu tun) (= gesture) → Bewegung f; to go through the motions of doing something (because protocol, etiquette etc demands it) → etw pro forma or der Form halber tun ; (= pretend) → so tun , als ob man etw täte , den Anschein erwecken , etw zu tun ; (= do mechanically) → etw völlig mechanisch tun (= proposal) → Antrag m; to propose or make (US) a motion → einen Antrag stellen (in debate) → Thema nt (Brit

: = bowel motion) → Stuhlgang m; (= faeces) → Stuhl m; to have a motion → Stuhlgang haben vt to motion somebody to do something → jdm bedeuten , etw zu tun (geh), → jdm ein Zeichen geben , dass er etw tun solle; he motioned me to a chair → er wies mir einen Stuhl an; he motioned me in → er winkte mich herein; she motioned me away → sie gab mir ein Zeichen , wegzugehen vi to motion to somebody to do something → jdm bedeuten , etw zu tun (geh), → jdm ein Zeichen geben , dass er etw tun solle motion adj → unbeweglich , reg (ungs) los ; to stand motion → bewegungslos dastehen motion picture n (esp US) → Film m motion sensor n → Bewegungsmelder m motion sickness n (Med) → Kinetose f (spec), → Seekrankheit f; (in the air) → Luftkrankheit f; (in car) → Autokrankheit f motion study to be in motion (vehicle) → essere in moto (machine) →

 essere in funzione to set in motion → avviare to go through the motions of doing sth (fig) → fare qc pro forma b.

(gesture) → cenno , gesto ; (proposal, at meeting) → mozione f c. (Brit) (also bowel motion) → evacuazione f (intestinale) 2. vt & vi to motion (to) sb to do sth → far cenno or segno a qn di fare qc motion (ˈməuʃən) noun 1. the act or state of moving. the motion of the planets; He lost the power of motion. beweging حَرَكَه движение movimento pohyb die Bewegung bevægelse κίνηση movimiento liikumine جنبش liike mouvement תנועה गति kretanje mozgás gerakan hreyfing moto , movimento 動き 움직임 judėjimas, eiga kustība gerakan beweging bevegelse ruch خوځښت movimento mişcare движение pohyb gibanje kretanje rörelse การเคลื่อนไหว hareket 移動，運動 рух حرکت sự vận động 运动 2.

a single movement or gesture. He summoned the waiter with a motion of the hand. beweging حَرَكَة، إشارَه жест movimento pohyb, gesto die Bewegung bevægelse; vink κίνηση gesto liigutus حرکت ele geste תנועה हिलाना kretnja mozdulat isyarat bending movimento , gesto 動作 몸짓 judesys, gestas mājiens; žests isyarat beweging tegn , vink ruch خوځښت movimento gest телодвижение ; жест pohyb gib pokret gest, åtbörd, tecken กิริยาท่าทาง hareket , işaret 動作，手勢 жест; рух тіла اشارہ cử chỉ 动作，手势 3. a proposal put before a meeting. She was asked to speak against the motion in the debate.

voorstel إقْتِراح предложение moção návrh der Antrag forslag πρόταση moción ettepanek طرح دادن aloite motion הַצָעָה לְדִיוּן प्रस्ताव diskutiranje indítvány, javaslat mosi tillaga mozione 動議 (의회, 집회 등에서의) 제의, 제안 pasiūlymas priekšlikums usul motie forslag ; resolusjon wniosek طرح كول moção moţiune предложение návrh predlog predlog förslag, yrkande, motion ญัตติ önerge 動議 пропозиція تجویز bản kiến nghị 提议，动议 verb to make a movement or sign eg directing a person or telling him to do something. He motioned (to) her to come nearer.

wys, roep يُحَرِّك сигнализирам с жест chamar pokynout winken gøre tegn γνέφω , κάνω νόημα hacer señas märku andma تکان دادن viittoa faire signe לַנוּע इशारा kretnjom uputiti int membuat isyarat gefa merki fare segno 合図する 몸짓(손짓)으로 신호하다 pamoti, mostu duoti ženklą pamāt, norādīt ar mājienu mengisyaratkan wenken gjøre tegn skinąć ټكان خوړل chamar a face semn (să) показать жестом, знаком kývnuť pomigniti dati znak rukom vinka (göra tecken) till (åt) โบกไม้โบกมือ işaret etmek/vermek 移動，做手勢 показувати жестом اشارہ کرنا ra hiệu, ra ý 移动，打手势 ˈmotionless adjective not

 moving.

a motionless figure. beweegloos بلا حِراك، ساكِن، عَديم الحَرَكَه неподвижен imóvel nehybný bewegungslos ubevægelig ακίνητος inmóvil liikumatu بى حرکت liikkumaton immobile חֲסַר תְּנוּעָה अचल, निश्चल, गतिहीन nepokretan mozdulatlan tak bergerak hreyfingarlaus immobile 動かない 움직이지 않는 nejudantis, nejudėdamas nekustīgs; sastindzis tidak bergerak onbeweeglijk ubevegelig nieruchomy بى خوځښته sem se mover imobil неподвижный nehybný negiben nepokretan orörlig ซึ่งอยู่นิ่ง hareketsiz 不動的 нерухомий بے حرکت bất động 不动的 motion picture a cinema film.

film فِلْم سينَمائي филм filme film der Film spillefilm κινηματογραφική ταινία película film سينما elokuva film סֶרֶט קוֹלנוֹע चलचित्र film mozifilm film kvikmynd film 映画 영화 filmas kinofilma filem film film film سينما filme film кинофильм film film film film ภาพยนตร์ film 電影 кінокартина, фільм سنیما phim điện ảnh 电影 in motion moving. Don't jump on the bus while it is in motion.

in beweging سائِر، مُتَحَرِّك в движение em movimento v pohybu in Bewegung i bevægelse σε κίνηση en movimiento liikumas حرکت liikkeessä en mouvement/marche בִּתְּנוּעָה चलायमान, चलाना u vrijeme kretanja mozgásban (van) bergerak á hreyfingu in movimento/moto 動いている 움직이고 있는 judantis kustībā sedang bergerak in beweging i bevegelse/gang w ruchu په حركت كښى em movimento în mişcare, în mers на ходу v pohybe v gibanju u pokretu i rörelse ขณะเคลื่อนไหว hareket hâlinde 移動中 на ходу حرکت میں đang di chuyển 在运动中 mo·tion Collected Poems | John Betjeman | Macmillan Collected Poems John Betj

eman; Introduction by Andrew Motion Farrar, Straus and Giroux Sign up now John Betjeman's Collected Poems first appeared in 1958; it made publishing history, and sold more than two and a half million copies to a steadily expanding readership.

Betjeman, who succeeded Cecil Day Lewis as poet laureate and held the position until his death in 1984, was the best-loved British poet since Tennyson. He is known for his modern and accessible subject matter (more specifically depictions of English middle-class existence). This volume, the first American edition of the Collected Poems, includes the delightful autobiography in verse, Summoned by Bells, and a new introduction by Britain's poet laureate, Andrew Motion. Jump to: REVIEWS Praise for Collected Poems "Betjeman was the great chronicler of English middle-classness . . . He was the best-selling British poet since Tennyson, and in time became a beloved television celebrity as well . . . Most of his best poems, like some of Byron's, Auden's and Larkin's, press right up against the boundary of light verse in their quickness, wittiness and sharpness . . .

The best of them have a certain charm and may even evoke in the reader something like the nostalgia the poet himself felt."—Charles McGrath, The New York Times Book Review "Betjeman has succeeded better than most of his contemporaries in narrowing the gulf between poetry and the public. In his own province of feeling he has established a personal regency over all contemporary taste."—The Times (London) "He is in the best sense a committed writer, whose poems spring from what he really feels about real life, and as a result he brings back to poetry a sense of dramatic urgency it had all but lost."—Philip Larkin "The publishers of [A.N. Wilson's John Betjeman: A Life] have helpfully reissued [his] Collected Poems in a paperback edition, enabling lovers of his verse to glory in it and those unacquainted with its glories to discover them. What a lot of good light verse there is in its 500 pages.

And more serious stuff too."—Martin Rubin, The Washington Times "A neat comic sense, an unfeigned comfort with 19th-century manners and forms, and a good eye for English milieus made Betjeman (1906–1984) both a great craftsman of light verse and the most popular British poet of his day. His first U.K. Collected Poems, in 1958, sold millions of copies. Newly available in the United States alongside A. N. Wilson's new biography, this big book can show Americans what so many Britons cherish: ballads and love poems devoted to strapping, tennis-playing young women; a fondness for Cornwall's seaside; devotion to traditional England, along with an amused contempt for the middle-class ways that might destroy it (the ways in which he, and his readers, actually live).

Betjeman and his sympathetic characters, from King Edward VIII to a 'husband down at the depot with car in car-park,' hike along 'stony lanes and back at six to tea,' celebrate Christmas, admire South London's churches and denounce the 'Inexpensive Progress' which plans to 'Leave no village standing./ Which could provide a landing/ For aeroplanes to roar.'"—Publishers Weekly Reviews from Goodreads Poets Laureate of Great Britain Poets Laureate of Great Britain Poets Laureate of Great Britain by J. Zimmerman Several of the other Laureates were famous poets, particularly Ted Hughes , Robert Southey , John Masefield , Sir John Betjeman , Cecil Day-Lewis , and the current Laureate, Andrew Motion . History and responsibilities. In Great Britain, the Poet Laureate is: The realm's official poet. A member of the royal household. Charged with writing verses for court and national occasions (such as for a Royal Wedding or the New Year). Awarded the position for life. Chosen by the British reigning monarch, from a list of nominees that the Prime Minister compiles after a poet laureate dies.

Shortly after the 1668, the position became the Poet Laureate of Great Britain in 1707, when The Act of Union created "Great Britain" as the political name of England, Scotland, and Wales. The name Laureate derives from the Latin laureatus ("crowned with laurel"). It comes from an ancient Roman tradition of honoring a person (especially a poet) who has shown excellence of achievement. The honor is signified by presenting the person with a wreath of laurel leaves. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on the Poets Laureate of Great Britain. What does "Laureate" mean? Answer . Who was the best? Most frequently this is said to be Tennyson . John Dryden (1631-1700). Laureate 1668-88. Appointed in 1668 by King Charles II, who gave John Dryden a formal royal warrant that awarded him the official titles of Poet Laureate and Historiographer Royal. This role continued under King James II.

As a powerful satirist, Dryden was a strong advocate and spokesman for his monarch, and "the best poet, dramatist, translator and critic of the age" [ Levin in Verses of the Poets Laureate] In 1689, sacked [or fired] by William III for failing to take an oath of allegiance. Thomas Shadwell (1643?-1692). Laureate 1689-92. The successful dramatist Thomas Shadwell was chosen in large part because he was a Protestant Whig, essential to replace the Catholic Dryden. met an inglorious end in 1693, A weak poet, a heavy drinker, and an opium user, Shadwell died from an overdose of opium, which he took in part to relieve his gout. He was said to have found the laureateship unimportant. Disrespected by John Dryden , among others, for his poetry as well as for his politics.

Shadwell wrote a yearly ode on the monarch's birthday, and introduced the tradition of writing a New Year ode; his odes are crashingly uninspired and mechanistic, as if written by an unusually dimwitted computer program. Nahum Tate (1652-1715). Laureate 1692-1715. Born in Dublin, Tate was awarded the Poet Laureate position (and its £100 per year) but the post of Historiographer Royal (and its annual £200) became a separate assignment. Tate is most known today for his authorship of the widely loved Christmas carol "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night". He is notorious for his (creative?) revision of Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear, giving it a happy ending. In response to public events, Tate wrote poems for victories against the French (1704), the Act of Union between the Parliaments of England and Scotland (1707), and the signing of the Peace of Utrecht with France (1713). Nicholas Rowe (1674-1718). Laureate 1715-18.

Nicholas Rowe was celebrated as a dramatist rather than as a poet. The Poet Laureate's role was now general praise of the sovereign, rather than political and historical. In addition to the annual New Year ode, the Laureate acquired the duty of writing a birthday ode to the monarch, a practice which was to last over 100 years. Laurence Eusden (1688-1730). Eusden never published a book of poetry. His work is mediocre. Colley Cibber (1671-1757). The poetry of dramatist Colley Cibber was conscientious but not inspired. William Whitehead (1715-85). Laureate 1757-85. [The appointment was first offered to and declined by Thomas Gray.] William Whitehead (a respectable though perhaps dull dramatist) was good humored and amiable. For example, he defended the poetry of Laureates in a comic poem "A Pathetic Apology For All Laureates, Past, Present, And To Come". Whitehead was conscientious, and saw himself as a non-partisan spokesman for the whole country.

Astonishingly for a political appointee, he appeared to see no requirement "to defend the King or support the government". Sadly, this reflects the idea that the Laureate's influence had weakened so much that the official poems were unlikely to influence opinions, even though the times were important politically, with rebellion in the American colonies and war in Europe. Thomas Wharton (1728-90). Laureate 1785-90. Professor of Poetry at Oxford, Wharton was the only eighteenth-century laureate who was not primarily a dramatist. William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge admired his work. Henry James Pye (1745-1813). Laureate 1790-1813. Before Pye's appointment, the Sovereign or the Lord Chamberlain (a member of the Royal Household) awarded the Poet Laureateship directly. William Pitt (the first Prime Minister involved in appointing a Laureate) offered the position to Henry James Pye, a politician more than a poet. Thereafter, the Prime Minister submits names for royal approval. Then the monarch commands the Lord Chamberlain to issue a warrant of appointment.

Robert Southey (1774-1843). Laureate 1813-43. [In a bizarre double-offer the appointment was offered to two writers concurrently. Fortunately, Sir Walter Scott turned down the approach by Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool.] Robert Southey accepted the suggestion of the post from the Prince Regent. When Scott declined the offer, he suggested Southey also, so the situation ended well. During Southey's tenure, George IV became monarch in 1820, and abandoned the requirement for regular odes to the monarch. William Wordsworth (1770-1850). Laureate 1843-50. William Wordsworth, at 73, was the oldest Poet Laureate to be appointed. He accepted the position on the agreement that he would not have obligations to write poetry on demand. Since Wordsworth, the job of Poet Laureate has been purely honorary, and appointees have been able to interpret the role as they wish. Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-92). Laureate 1850-92.

[The appointment was first offered to and (to our benefit) declined by Samuel Rogers.] Alfred Tennyson raised the stature of the Poet Laureate hugely. His laureate poems include The Charge Of The Light Brigade (the suicidal charge by the Light Brigade down a valley at Balaclava during the Crimean war). Tennyson's death was mourned publicly by millions. In respect, no appointment was made to the post of Poet Laureate for four years. Alfred Austin (1835-1913). A pompous man, least successful of the Poets Laureate. Robert Bridges (1844-1930). Uninterested in fame and praise, Bridges wrote little and destroyed his papers before his death. John Masefield (1878-1967). Laureate 1930-67. Born in Ledbury, Herefordshire, England, Masefield apprenticed to be a merchant marine officer. While training, he became ill in Chile, returned to England, then worked in factories and bars in the United States.

In 1897 he returned to England, working on newspapers and his own writing (poems, stories, and plays). Masefield published his first volume of poems in 1902. He served during World War I in the Red Cross in France and on a hospital ship at Gallipoli. His simple and moving poems include the famous Sea Fever. Cecil Day-Lewis (1904-72). Laureate 1968-72. Anglo-Irish Cecil Day-Lewis was a poet, critic, and educator who enjoyed the honor of being the Poet Laureate. A student at Oxford with Auden. A committed Communist though naive politically. Hi poetry are often romantic and melancholy. Also he wrote detective stories (using the pseudonym Nicholas Blake). Sir John Betjeman (1906-84). Laureate 1972-84. Born in Highgate (North London). Sir John Betjeman wrote humorous and accessible poetry. Betjeman commemorated royal events such as The Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. Ted Hughes (1930-98).

Laureate 1984-1998. [Appointed on the refusal of poet Philip Larkin .] Born in Yorkshire. A fierce, sometimes ferocious, poet of the natural and the mythological worlds, of "the struggle in the soil as well as in the soul" [ Levin in Verses of the Poets Laureate] . Also authored poetry and plays for children. Despite the "no obligations" clause, Hughes did write in commemoration of royal events, such as the christening of Prince Henry of Wales in 1985. Andrew Motion (1952-present). Laureate 1999-2012. Buy Verses of the Poets Laureate: from John Dryden to Andrew Motion , by Phillis Levin (Editor) and Andrew Motion (Introduction): describes and shows the work of the first 19 poets appointed as Poet Laureate since Charles II created the first in 1668. Andrew Motion, an acclaimed poet and biographer, teaches creative writing at the University of East Anglia. He promotes poetry among young people.

His poems addressing many public events as well and royal occasions, including the 100th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. A critic, and a free-form poet who interweaves the personal, the historical, the legendary, and the political. Carol Ann Duffy (1955-present). Buy Selected Poems by Carol Ann Duffy , first female Poet Laureate. Carol Ann Duffy (poet, university professor, playwright, and freelance writer) is the first woman and the first Scottish-born poetry to be appointed Poet Laureate. She graduated with a degree in philosophy from the University of Liverpool in 1977. Her books like Feminine Gospels (2002) and Mrs Scrooge show her skill in long narrative poems, written in an accessible style and often including surreal imagery. Other work, like Rapture (2005) are poems of passion and love. She also writes poetry (such as The Hat, 2007) for children. Not-quite Poets Laureate of Great Britain. These poets were not Poets Laureate, for the reasons given.

Ben Jonson (1573-1637), a playwright and poet, a volatile satirist of explosive temperament and "a great lover and praiser of himself", was not formally appointed as Poet Laureate. John Dryden was the first appointed Poet Laureate, as shown by the official royal record (starts in a new window). At best, Jonson was a "common law" poet laureate (as in "common law" husband). Some believe Jonson to be the greatest English poet and dramatist of the seventeenth century. Many praise his charm and good humor. His vigor and productivity is clear. Jonson learned the trade of bricklayer, fought with English troops in Flanders, then returned to London to become an actor and playwright, a writer of masques (short pageant-like plays), and a tutor to Sir Walter Raleigh's son. In 1597 Jonson was imprisoned for involvement in the satire The Isle of Dogs, which authorities found seditious. He was tried for killing a fellow actor in a duel in 1598. Imprisioned for this, he converted to Catholicism to be spared death for murder.

He was released provided that he forfeit all his possessions, and that he receive a felon's brand on his thumb. Charged with treason for his tragedy Sejanus, His Fall (1603) and then briefly imprisoned for views in Eastward Ho (1604), Jonson (a Catholic) was under deep suspicion after Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder Plot (1605). This situation may have motivated him, shortly thereafter, to reconvert to Anglicanism. He did become court poet to King James I. One of Jonson's most famous poems, "To Celia", begins "Drink to me, only, with thine eyes...". Buried upright in Westminster Abbey, standing on his feet in the northern aisle of the Nave (and not in Poets' Corner) beneath the inscription "O Rare Ben Johnson" William Davenant, or Sir William D'Avenant. After Jonson's death, dramatist Davenant [D'Avenant] inherited Jonson's office and pension, again as an unofficial appointment. Links Poets Laureate of the United States of America . Books about the Poets Laureate of Great Britain.

Buy Verses of the Poets Laureate: from John Dryden to Andrew Motion , by Phillis Levin (Editor) and Andrew Motion (Introduction): describes and shows the work of the first 19 poets appointed as Poet Laureate since Charles II created the first in 1668. Related Books. Cecil Day-Lewis | Article about Cecil Day-Lewis by The Free Dictionary Cecil Day-Lewis | Article about Cecil Day-Lewis by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Wikipedia . Day Lewis, C. (Cecil Day Lewis), 1904–72, English author, b. Ireland. While he was still at Oxford, he became associated with a group of leftist poets led by W. H. Auden Auden, W. H. (Wystan Hugh Auden) , 1907–73, Anglo-American poet, b. York, England, educated at Oxford. A versatile, vigorous, and technically skilled poet, Auden ranks among the major literary figures of the 20th cent. ..... Click the link for more information. . After graduation he taught at various schools until 1935 and then decided to devote himself to writing.

He was professor of poetry at Oxford from 1951 to 1956. Included among his volumes of poetry are Collected Poems 1929–1933 (1935), Overtures to Death (1938), Short Is the Time (1945), Collected Poems (1954), Pegasus and Other Poems (1957), and The Whispering Roots and Other Poems (1970). Lewis was a member of the Communist party from 1935 to 1938, and his early poetry is marked by didacticism and a preoccupation with social themes. His later work, however, is more personal and metaphysical. Besides poetry, C. Day Lewis is noted for the collection of essays A Hope for Poetry (1934); for a verse translation of Vergil's Aeneid (1952); and for detective stories written under the pseudonym Nicholas Blake. From 1967 to 1972 he was poet laureate of Great Britain. Bibliography See his autobiography, The Buried Day (1960); biography by J. N.

Riddel (1971). Britain Names A Laureate Of Poems, Not Surprises - The New York Times The New York Times Arts |Britain Names A Laureate Of Poems, Not Surprises Search Continue reading the main story Andrew Motion, a 47-year-old London poet, critic, biographer and professor of creative writing, was chosen today to become Britain's poet laureate, succeeding Ted Hughes. Mr. Motion was seen as the most conventional of the many mooted candidates, and his selection put to rest rumors alarming to traditionalists that Tony Blair, the modernity-minded Prime Minister, might bypass known writers in favor of a ''people's poet.'' Sir Paul McCartney was one name mentioned in that context. Mr. Hughes held the post for 14 years until his death in October. The job has in the past been a lifetime appointment underwritten by a case of sherry and $:100 ($162) a year, but in a departure from custom, today's statement from 10 Downing Street said that Mr. Motion's appointment would be for 10 years and that there would be an annual payment of $:5,000 ($8,100).

The poet laureate is approved by the Queen but chosen from a short list by the Prime Minister. Past honorees include Tennyson, Wordsworth, Cecil Day-Lewis, John Masefield and John Betjeman. The first poet laureate was John Dryden in 1670, and though there is no formal job description, it is understood to necessitate writing verse about the royal family and on grand national and ceremonial occasions. hounds. He also marked the passing of Mr. Hughes, whom he greatly admired, with verse. The Glasgow poet Carol Ann Duffy said recently that if chosen she would refuse to celebrate in verse the next royal event, the marriage this summer of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones. ''No self-respecting poet should have to,'' she told The Guardian. ''There are so many more interesting things to do with the job.'' Numbers of other poets let it be known that they did not want to be considered for the post at all. When a reporter at The New York Times called Craig Raine, an Oxford poet, last December to ask if he was interested, he exclaimed, ''Oh God, no!'' and hung up the telephone. Mr.

Hughes became laureate only after Philip Larkin rejected it. Though widely admired as a great poet, he was faulted to the point of ridicule for much of the verse he composed in the position. Mr. Motion, who had made it widely known that he would like the job, said today that he saw the post as ''an extremely complex and interesting challenge for a poet.'' Speaking from Sydney, Australia, where he was attending a literary festival, he said, ''I think that I want to honor the traditional responsibilities, to write poems about royal occasions and so on, but I am also very keen to diversify the job, or at least make those poems part of the wider national issues that I also want to write about.'' He said he particularly wanted to promote poetry in schools. In response to a comment that he had been viewed as the ''safe'' choice for the job, Mr. Motion said, ''Everything I have done in my life I have intended to reform, so I didn't really recognize that description of me.'' He vowed that he would not write poems that are ''merely sycophantic or sentimental.'' Mr. Motion lives in Islington, the North London neighborhood where Mr. Blair lived before moving to 10 Downing Street.

He studied at Oxford and holds the creative writing professorship at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. He has published nine volumes of verse, written a well-regarded biography of Keats and won the Whitbread Prize for his life of Larkin, the poet who declined the laureate position. Though the post itself is not held in universally high esteem, the race to see who will get it stirs broad interest, and official odds are quoted at William Hill, Britain's biggest betting agency. Besides Ms. Duffy, candidates making it onto the agency's lists included Seamus Heaney, Derek Walcott, Wendy Cope, Benjamin Zephaniah, James Fenton, Tom Paulin, and Geoffrey Hill. In an editorial today welcoming the expected choice of Mr. Motion, The Times of London called him ''a poet of quiet understanding, gentle humanity and lyric force. His is a very British body of work, bound by sea and salt flats, personal loss and the national past.'' poet laureate Encyclopedia > Literature and the Arts > Literature in English > English Literature, 20th cent.

to the Present poet laureate poet laureate (lôˈrēĭt) [ key ], title conferred in Britain by the monarch on a poet whose duty it is to write commemorative odes and verse. It is an outgrowth of the medieval English custom of having versifiers and minstrels in the king's retinue, and of the later royal patronage of poets, such as Chaucer and Spenser . Ben Jonson seems to have had what amounted to the laureateship from Charles I in 1617, but the present title, adopted from the Greek and Roman custom of crowning with a wreath of laurel, was first given to John Dryden in 1670.

Dryden's successors have been Thomas Shadwell (1688–92), Nahum Tate (1692–1715), Nicholas Rowe (1715–18), Laurence Eusden (1718–30), Colley Cibber (1730–57), William Whitehead (1757–85), Thomas Warton (1785–90), Henry Pye (1790–1813), Robert Southey (1813–43), William Wordsworth (1843–50), Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1850–92), Alfred Austin (1892–1913), Robert Bridges (1913–30), John Masefield (1930–67), Cecil Day Lewis (1968–72), John Betjeman (1972–84), Ted Hughes (1984–98), Andrew Motion (1999–2009), the first poet to serve a fixed 10-year term, and Carol Ann Duffy (200

9–), Britain's first female laureate.

In recent years the position's ceremonial duties have largely been eliminated, and it is no longer a lifetime post. In the United States, the poet laureate is charged with raising "the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry." It is an annual position but may be held for a series of years; the poet is chosen by the Librarian of Congress. It was instituted in 1937 as the consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress and was held by 30 poets before an act of Congress (1985) changed the name to poet laureate. Robert Penn Warren became (1986) the first to hold the title of poet laureate in United States.

His successors have been Richard Wilbur (1987–88), Howard Nemerov (1988–90), Mark Strand (1990–91), Joseph Brodsky (the first foreign-born laureate; 1991–92), Mona Van Duyn (the first woman laureate; 1992–93), Rita Dove (the first African-American laureate; 1993–95), Robert Hass (1995–97), Robert Pinsky (1997–2000), Stanley Kunitz (2000–2001), Billy Collins (2001–3), Louise Glück (2003–4), Ted Kooser (2004–6), Donald Hall (2006–7), Charles Simic (2007–8), Kay Ryan (2008–10), W. S. Merwin (2010–11), Philip Levine (2011–12), and Natasha Trethewey (2012–). See K.

Hopkins, The Poets Laureate (1954, repr. 1966). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. Carol Ann Duffy likely to be first woman to follow Tennyson and Betjeman as laureate | Books | The Guardian Close This article is 8 years old On the death of Ted Hughes nearly 10 years ago the search began for a writer to fill the historic role of Poet Laureate. Among those considered frontrunners, alongside Andrew Motion, the current laureate, were two brilliant rival poets: Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage. While Armitage was ruled out because of his relative youth, Duffy's unconventional lifestyle was said to have counted against her. With the role due to fall vacant again next year, both candidates have emerged at the head of the pack once more, with Duffy the favourite at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Glasgow-born Duffy would be the first woman to hold the 400-year-old office, should she accept, as government sources now suggest she might.

The prestigious and, some would argue, anachronistic job of writing verse for the monarch has been associated with great literary names such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, Cecil Day-Lewis and John Betjeman. Today the laureate is no longer given the role 'in perpetuity'. What is more, the token annual salary of £100 and 'a butt of sack' (108 gallons of sweet wine) is no longer offered by the Crown. Instead, after the post was modernised by Tony Blair, the title is awarded once every 10 years and provides a more conventional, if still modest, annual income of less than £20,000. Before Motion settled to the task in 1999, Duffy had been the favourite. However, her status then as the mother of a young child and as a woman in a lesbian relationship made her wary of taking up such a prominent national position. It was also suggested that Blair, then Prime Minister, had vetoed Duffy because he was concerned that her domestic arrangements would be inappropriate for such a public figure. Now, as the gift of the position comes around again, things look different for Duffy.

Her daughter, Ella, is almost a teenager and her relationship with her fellow Scottish poet, Jackie Kay, has ended. She has built on the success of her 1993 collection, Mean Time, which won both the Whitbread and Forward prizes, with an intense 2005 work, Rapture, which won the TS Eliot prize. Duffy, born in 1955, has also been appointed an OBE and a CBE and is now a regular feature of the GCSE syllabus. The other leading candidate for the role is Yorkshireman and former probation officer Simon Armitage, an equally popular and acclaimed poet. 'These two are both premier league and it would be nice to have a poet laureate whose work was read by children in schools,' said Daisy Goodwin, who is a television producer and a passionate promoter of poetry. 'Both Simon and Carol Ann are fantastically well qualified. I don't know though whether either of them really wants it. I doubt they are ardent monarchists.' Armitage, a Manchester Metropolitan lecturer, is perhaps best known for his controversial millennium eve poem and for writing about the collapse of the World Trade Centre towers in his work 'Out of the Blue'.

He is clearly at home with lyric responses to the events of the day, which is a key demand of the poet laureate. 'Simon is very good at writing topically,' said the poet Craig Raine. 'Though both Carol Ann and Simon would do the job very well.' If the role were given to a woman, it would mark a change in national appetites. While many of Britain and Ireland's reigning literary titans are men, among them Raine, Seamus Heaney, Don Paterson and James Fenton, it is also true that female poets are more popular than ever with their audience. These writers include Wendy Cope, Lavinia Greenlaw and Jenny Joseph, whose poem 'Warning', which begins 'When I am an old woman I shall wear purple,' was once voted the nation's favourite contemporary poem. Duffy's many poems for children are particularly acclaimed and the title poem in her recent children's collection, The Hat, imagines a line of poets passing down their tradition, like a hat, for the next generation to wear. The poet uses the idea both to pastiche the work of her great forebears and to teach her readers a little bit about them.

The work led critics to wonder if Duffy saw herself as standing next in line for the hat. She certainly wanted, she said, to see more women's work rooted in the nation's poetic canon. 'When I was young, there was a sense that, if poetry wasn't written by dead men, then it had to be somehow difficult and have secrets.' If Duffy does secure the Queen's nomination, on the advice of Downing Street, maybe the next Master of the Queen or King's Music will be a mistress too. The contenders Carol Ann Duffy, 52 Born in Glasgow: as well as poetry she has written children's books and plays. From Translating The English, 1989: 'Welcome to my country! We have here Edwina Curry and the Sun newspaper... The Princess Di and the football hooligan.' Simon Armitage, 44 Lecturer at Leeds University, famous for 'Out of the Blue', his response to 11 September 2001.

From Killing Time, 1999: 'Britain is an aircraft carrier moored off the coast of continental Europe, home to a squadron of hawks and harriers.' James Fenton, 59 A former Vietnam war correspondent and Oxford University's former Professor of Poetry . From God, A Poem, 1983: 'I didn't exist at the Flood, And I won't be around for Salvation To sort out the sheep from the cud.' · This article was amended on Sunday May 25 2008. The article above mistakenly claimed that Simon Armitage was a lecturer at Leeds University. He actually lectures at Manchester Metropolitan. This has been corrected. Poets laureate Prime Ministers ==> The post of Poet Laureate was first held by Ben Jonson in 1616 but it wasn't until the appointment of John Dryden in 1668 that the position became official. The post was normally held for life except in the case of Dryden who had to give the position up to Thomas Shadwell after the Glorious Revolution in 1688 when the Catholic King James II went into exile and was replaced by the joint rule of the Protestants Mary II and William III .

The post has been held (almost) continuously up until the present day and although originally intended for poets to work as the official chronicler of their times it has been awarded since the 19th century to poets seen as the most talented of their generation. Previously held for life the position of Poet Laureate is now restricted to a 10-year period. In 2009 Carol Ann Duffy became the first woman to become Poet Laureate.

Question: Andrew Motion, Cecil Day-Lewis and John Betjemin all held which post?
Answer: Poet Laureate